The Knapthorne Conspiracy by Malcolm Ballard (best english novels for beginners txt) 📕

“Mostly. When she’s around me, anyway. Some people find her quite nice, would you believe?” She gave a little laugh.

“Takes all sorts,” Ben replied, exhaling forcefully. “Anyway, ignoring your sister, how are you. You’re looking fantastic!” Bella gazed into his eyes, touched by his compliment. Suddenly, she was awfully glad to see him.

“Thanks, Ben,” she said, quietly. “It’s really good to see you, thanks for coming.” She kissed him lightly on the lips and he pulled her to him, with a sense of urgency, but Bella held herself back. “No, please Ben, not now. I’m still pretty upset by Laura. Just give it time, eh?” He held her away from him, gripping her arms.

“I’m sorry. That was thoughtless of me. It’s just that you have such an effect on me!” He looked like a little boy who’d been told to take his hand out of the biscuit tin.

“Not the same effect my sister has, I hope!” Their laughter lightened the mood and they parted to sit down and drink their coffee. Now that Laura had departed they could at least be themselves.

“Do you wish you hadn’t come now?” Bella said, after a while, referring to the presence of her sister.

“Are you joking? I’ve been looking forward to it for days. Just the thought of seeing you again. I’ve missed you, you know.” It sounded like the truth but she couldn’t confess to feeling the same, not now, however much she was pleased to see him. But, now that he was here with her, she couldn’t deny she felt attracted to him.

“So, what are we going to do with our day?” She badly needed to change the subject and lighten the atmosphere. Laura had provided her with enough emotional drama for the time being.

“What are the options?” Ben enquired, not wanting to lead the conversation.

“Well, we could be really nasty and take off somewhere” There was a mischievous grin on her face and she was nodding at him, vigorously.

“You mean simply lock Laura out so that she’ll have to go home?” he said, incredulously.

“I didn’t ask her to come down and she’s the last person I want here. What do you say?” Unable to stop himself, he burst out laughing.

“I think it’s a great idea. Let’s go!”

Ben felt the same sense of relief at getting out of the cottage that he’d experienced previously. For some reason, Laura seemed to embody the strange feeling that the place seemed to evoke, as if she were an extension of something metaphysical. He had left the decision as to their destination up to Bella, as the idea had been her suggestion, and she had suggested they head in the general direction of Wareham and Swanage, on the coast, and take it from there. Once they were away from the cottage and heading south-east towards the Dorset coastline even the day looked like it was cheering up now that the malignant presence of Laura was absent. Gradually they began to relax and get to know one another once again, with Ben at the wheel and his passenger keeping an eye on the map.

“I thought it might be nice to go up to Studland, it looks as though its perched right on the cliffs.” Bella suggested.

“Mm. Good idea,” Ben concurred. “There’s a pub there…”

“There would be!” she interjected, with a short laugh.

“As I was saying. There’s a pub there and we could have lunch after a walk along the cliff path. How does that sound?”

“Brilliant! Just the sort of thing I feel like doing, today.” She turned to face him. Let‘s make a pact not to mention Laura again, so it doesn’t spoil our day! Ok?”

“That’s fine by me!” he agreed, grateful for the opportunity to put her out of his mind. The less he had to do with that woman as far as he was concerned the better.

By the time they got to Wareham the day had improved still further with every indication that it would remain fine. Ben had made the suggestion that, in the afternoon, they pay a visit to Corfe Castle with its striking stone houses. They could perhaps go and see the old monument then have a stroll through the town and have afternoon tea somewhere. Bella thought it a wonderful idea, particularly as it meant they weren’t likely to get back to the cottage until late in the day and Laura would be long gone. With her sister consigned to no more than a nasty memory, for the time being, Bella’s thoughts turned to Ben and just what his intentions might be. The way she was feeling right at that moment if he’d have said let’s stop the car and go frolic in the hay she probably would have done. She’d simply have to hope he wasn’t a mind reader. Neither of them had felt the urgency to speak for a while, content that they had the rest of the day to themselves now.

“What are you thinking about?” Ben asked, giving her a quick glance. “You’re not usually this quiet.” He looked again, eyes lingering this time, taking in her long, slim legs, the curve of her breasts and the wild mane of hair, longing to reach out and put a hand on the thin, silky fabric of her dress and feel the smooth flesh of her thigh underneath.

“You wouldn’t want to know,” she answered, unable to look him in the eye. “How about you? You’ve not exactly been talkative either. What’s on your mind?” The opportunity was too good to miss.

“Alright, you asked for it.” He kept his eyes on the road ahead running his tongue across his lower lip before he spoke. “I was thinking about putting my hand on that lovely leg of yours.” A small shiver ran up the inside of her thigh like a miniscule electric shock to a place she didn’t want to think about. She reached out for his hand placing it on the top of her leg, just inches from